Adjusting turret for a long-range optical device

ABSTRACT

An adjusting turret for a long-range optical device, in particular a telescopic sight, includes a rotary cap rotatable about a rotary axis and at least one locking ring having a toothing and at least one locking element cooperating permanently with the toothing. The at least one locking element is moved by rotating the rotary cap out of a first, non-locked engagement position, in which the at least one locking element is in engagement with a first portion of the toothing of the at least one locking ring, overcoming a rotary resistance produced by the force of at least one elastic element into a second, non-locked engagement position, in which the at least one locking element is moved into engagement with a second portion of the toothing of the locking ring. The adjusting turret includes at least one adjusting element in particular for the stepless adjustment of the rotary resistance.

The invention relates to an adjusting turret for a long-range opticaldevice, in particular for a telescopic sight, wherein the adjustingturret comprises a rotary cap rotatable about a rotary axis and at leastone locking ring with a toothing and at least one locking elementpermanently cooperating with the toothing of the at least one lockingring, wherein the at least one locking element is moved by rotating therotary cap out of a first, non-locked engagement position, in which theat least one locking element is moved into engagement with a firstportion of the toothing of the at least one locking ring, overcoming arotary resistance produced by the force of at least one elastic elementinto a second, non-locked engagement position, in which the at least onelocking element is moved into engagement with a second portion of thetoothing of the locking ring.

Adjusting turrets of the aforementioned kind are usually used foradjusting a line of sight in vertical or horizontal direction. Adjustingturrets of this kind make a click upon rotation which can be clearlyperceived by the user and is caused by forcing out and re-engaging thelocking element into the toothing. Each rotation by one clickcorresponds here to a defined lateral or height adjustment of the lineof sight. An adjusting turret with a click adjustment is known forexample from DE29720737U1.

The disadvantage of known adjusting turrets is however that with therotation of the turret the rotary resistance perceived as “clickhardness” always remains constant regardless of the user or conditionsof use. This can be a disadvantage in many situations, for example whenusing the adjusting turret with gloves. Different users can also havedifferent preferences for the click hardness.

It is therefore an objective of the invention to overcome theaforementioned disadvantages of known solutions and enable a simple andreliable adjustment of the click hardness.

Said objective is achieved by an adjusting turret of the aforementionedkind according to the invention in that the adjusting turret comprisesat least one adjusting element, in particular for the steplessadjustment of the rotary resistance.

The solution according to the invention enables a stepless adaptationand adjustment of the desired click hardness by a user. Thus the usercan individually adjust the force required for the rotation of theadjusting turret by one click. The adjusting turret thus always remainsrotatable and only the rotary resistance changes.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention by activating theat least one adjusting element the hardness of the at least one elasticelement and/or the pretensioning of the at least one elastic element isadjusted.

Preferably, the locking element is mounted displaceably perpendicular tothe rotary axis of the rotary cap.

The operation can be made simple in that the at least one adjustingelement can be displaced parallel to or perpendicular to or obliquely toor radially to the rotary axis of the rotary cap.

In addition, the at least one locking element can be loaded by at leastone force acting perpendicular to or obliquely to the rotary axisproduced by the at least one elastic element.

Furthermore, the adjusting turret can comprise at least oneforce-transmitting element connected directly or indirectly to the atleast one adjusting element, cooperating with at least one end facingaway from the locking ring of the at least one locking element.

The force-transmitting element can be arranged to be displaced parallelto and/or along and/or rotationally to the rotary axis of the rotary capand is designed to taper towards an end facing the locking elementforming an edge, wherein the edge forms a run-on surface for the end ofthe locking element facing away from the locking ring.

Furthermore, the force-transmitting element can be loaded at least by atleast one force acting parallel to the direction of the rotary axis ofthe rotary cap and produced by the at least one elastic element.

Preferably, the at least one locking element comprises at least onefront part engaging in the toothing of the locking ring and at least onerear part facing away from the locking ring, wherein between the frontand the rear part at least one spring is held and the front part ismounted displaceably against the rear part.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention the at least oneelastic element consists of at least one spring.

For a better understanding of the invention the latter is explained inmore detail with reference to the following Figures.

In a much simplified, schematic representation:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a first variant of an adjusting turretaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a second variant of an adjusting turretaccording to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a third variant of an adjusting turretaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a force-transmitting element of the variant of the adjustingturret shown in FIG. 3 in two different positions;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a fourth variant of an adjusting turretaccording to the invention.

First of all, it should be noted that in the variously describedexemplary embodiments the same parts have been given the same referencenumerals and the same component names, whereby the disclosures containedthroughout the entire description can be applied to the same parts withthe same reference numerals and same component names. Also detailsrelating to position used in the description, such as e.g. top, bottom,side etc. relate to the currently described and represented figure andin case of a change in position should be adjusted to the new position.

According to FIG. 1 an adjusting turret 1 according to the invention fora long-range optical device, in particular for a telescopic sight,comprises a rotary cap 2 rotatable about a rotary axis. In addition, theadjusting turret 1 comprises a locking ring 3 with a toothing and atleast one locking element 4 a, 4 b permanently cooperating with thetoothing of the locking ring 3. The adjusting turret 1 can, as shown,comprise two or more similarly designed locking elements 4 a, 4 b. Thelocking elements 4 a, 4 b can be designed to be pin-like, as shown inFIG. 1.

By rotating the rotary cap 2 the locking elements 4 a, 4 b are movedrespectively out of a first engagement position, in which the lockingelements 4 a, 4 b are in engagement with a first portion of the toothingof the locking ring 3, into a second engagement position in which thelocking elements 4 a, 4 b are in engagement respectively with a secondportion of the toothing of the locking ring 3. The locking elements 4 a,4 b can each comprise a front part 10 a, 10 b engaging in the toothingof the locking ring 3 and at least one rear part 11 a, 11 b facing awayfrom the locking ring 3. Rotating the locking elements 4 a, 4 b furtherabout a tooth of the toothing of the locking ring 3 corresponds here toone “click”. In order to rotate the locking elements 4 a, 4 b further byone click, the rotary resistance produced by the force of at least oneelastic, preferably spring-like, element has to be overcome. The elasticelement is formed in the shown embodiment by at least one spring 5. Theat least one spring 5 acts on the at least one locking element 4, 4 b.The force of the spring 5 defines how strongly the locking element 4 a,4 b is pressed against the locking ring 3.

The spring 5 can be for example a helical spring, plate spring, airspring, leaf spring etc.

The rotary cap 2 can be connected in a rotationally secure manner to anelement 12 on or in which the locking element 4 a, 4 b is displaceablymounted. For example, the locking element 4 a, 4 b can be mounteddisplaceably in a bore of the element 12. Preferably, the lockingelement 4 a, 4 b is mounted displaceably perpendicular to the rotaryaxis a of the rotary cap 2.

The element 12 can in turn be part of a spindle, which acts on anoptical system of the telescopic sight. By activating the rotary cap 2the locking element 4 can be rotated relative to the locking ring 3. Thelocking ring 3 can hereby remain stationary relative to a surface of thetelescopic sight.

The adjusting turret 1 comprises one or more adjusting elements 8 forthe stepless adjustment of the rotary resistance. By means of theadjusting element 8 a spring hardness of the spring 5 and/or apretensioning of the spring 5 can be varied steplessly. As in theembodiment shown here, the adjusting element 8 can be designed as asteplessly rotatable screw, in or on which the spring 5 is mounted. Byactivating the screw the latter is displaced parallel to the rotaryaxis, whereby the pretensioning of the spring 5 is adjusted. The spring5 can act on a force-transmitting element 9 which is connected by thespring 5 indirectly to the adjusting element 8. The force-transmittingelement 9 cooperates respectively with the ends 11 a, 11 b of thelocking elements 4 a, 4 b facing away from the locking ring 3.

The force-transmitting element 9 can be displaced to be parallel to therotary axis a of the rotary cap 2. The force-transmitting element 9tapers towards one end facing the locking elements 4 a, 4 b forming twoedges 13 a, 13 b, which each form a run-on surface for the ends 11 a, 11b of the locking elements 4 a, 4 b facing away from the locking ring 3.By means of the force-transmitting element 9 the locking elements 4 a, 4b are pressed in a locking position against the locking ring 3 by aforce produced by the spring 5. On rotating the rotary cap 2 the lockingelements 4 a, 4 b are forced out of the toothing of the locking ring 3.In this way the locking elements 4 a, 4 b are moved in the direction ofthe force-transmitting element 9 and push the latter upwards along therotary axis a, whereby there is a compression of the spring 5. Bychanging the pretensioning or hardness of the spring 5 by means of theadjusting element 8 the spring force to be overcome can be changed andthus the rotary resistance can be adjusted.

FIG. 2 shows a further and possibly independent embodiment of theadjusting turret 1, wherein the same reference numerals and componentparts are used for the same parts as in the preceding FIG. 1. To avoidunnecessary repetition reference is made to the detailed description ofthe preceding FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the locking elements 4 a, 4 b can also bedesigned to have multiple parts, wherein between the front part 10 a, 10b and the rear part 11 a, 11 b of each of the locking elements 4 a, 4 ba spring 6 and 7 can be arranged. By rotating the rotary cap 2 one clickthe front part 10 a, 10 b of the respective locking element 4 a, 4 b ismoved against the corresponding rear part 11 a, 11 b and thus compressesthe springs 6 and 7. In the shown case by means of theforce-distributing element 9 on activating the adjusting element 8designed here in the form of a screw the pretensioning or hardness ofthe springs 6 and 7 can be adjusted. On rotating the screw used as anadjusting element 8 the latter is displaced along the rotary axis a andalso causes the displacement of the force-distributing element 9 alongsaid rotary axis a. By means of the edges 13 a, 13 b used as run-onsurfaces the parts 11 a and 11 b are displaced perpendicular to therotary axis a and the springs 6 and 7 are compressed.

It should be noted at this point however that a combination of theembodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is also possible. Thus in theembodiment shown in FIG. 2 a spring 5 can also be provided. By means ofa combination of springs 5, 6 and 7 a particularly effective springcharacteristic curve can be achieved for the resulting total spring. Itshould also be noted that the springs 6 and 7, even if the latter arescrew springs, can also be designed differently, for example as helicalsprings, air springs etc. In addition, it should be noted that one ofthe locking elements 4 a, 4 b can also be designed in two parts and theother one can be designed as a one-piece pin. Furthermore, in order toimplement the invention in all of the embodiments it is also possible toprovide only a single locking element 4 a or 4 b.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a further and possibly independent embodiment of theadjusting turret 1, wherein in turn for the same parts the samereference numerals and component names are used as in the precedingFigures. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to thedetailed description in the preceding figures.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the adjusting element 8 a on its lowersection used as a force-transmitting element can have a cross-section,as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the force-transmitting element and theadjusting element 8 designed in one piece. Furthermore, the ends 11 a,11 b can have extensions 11 c, 11 d which are displaceable in radialdirection in recesses 14 a, 14 b forming a slide. By rotating theadjusting element 8 a or force-transmitting means acting on theextensions 11 c and 11 d about the rotary axis a the extensions 11 c and11 d are displaced along the recesses 14 a, 14 and thus the respectivespring 6, 7 is pretensioned by moving the sections 11 a, 11 b in thedirection of sections 10 a, 10 b. Side surfaces of the adjustingelements 8 a cooperating with the extensions 11 c, 11 d here formrun-off curves for the extensions 11 c, 11 d. In the upper view shown inFIG. 4 the springs 6 and 7 are pretensioned to a maximum relaxedposition, whereas in the lower view of FIG. 4 the springs 6 and 7 arepretensioned to the maximum.

FIG. 5 shows an additional and possibly independent embodiment of theadjusting turret 1, wherein the same reference numerals and componentnames are used for the same parts as in the preceding Figures. To avoidunnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description ofthe preceding figures.

The embodiment according to FIG. 5 corresponds essentially to that ofFIG. 2 with the difference that the adjusting element 8 b is designed inone piece with the force-transmitting element 9 and is mounteddisplaceably on a side surface of the adjusting turret 1 in a directionparallel to the rotary axis a. The adjusting element 8 b can be designedfor example as a ring, which is taken up by a user and can be lifted andlowered relative to the locking elements 4 a, 4 b. As theforce-transmitting element 9 follows this movement due to the one-piecedesign with the adjusting element 8 b, in this way by means of theforce-transmitting element 9 the pretensioning or hardness of thesprings 6 and 7 can be adjusted.

Lastly, as a point of formality it should be noted that for a betterunderstanding of the structure the elements have in part not beenillustrated to scale and/or have been enlarged and/or reduced in size.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 adjusting turret-   2 rotary cap-   3 locking ring-   4 a, b locking element-   5 spring-   6 spring-   7 spring-   8, 8 a, 8 b adjusting element-   9 force-transmitting element-   10 a, b front part-   11 a, b rear part-   12 element-   13 a, b edge-   14 a, b recesses

1. An adjusting turret (1) for a long-range optical device, inparticular for a telescopic sight, wherein the adjusting turret (1)comprises a rotary cap (2) rotatable about a rotary axis and at leastone locking ring (3) having a toothing and at least one locking element(4 a, 4 b) permanently cooperating with the toothing of the at least onelocking ring (3), wherein the at least one locking element (4 a, 4 b) ismoved by rotating the rotary cap (2) out of a first, non-lockedengagement position, in which the at least one locking element (4 a, 4b) is moved into engagement with a first portion of the toothing of theat least one locking ring (3), overcoming a rotary resistance producedby the force of at least one elastic element into a second, non-lockedengagement position, in which the at least one locking element (4 a, 4b) is moved into engagement with a second portion of the toothing of thelocking ring (3), wherein the adjusting turret (1) comprises at leastone adjusting element (8, 8 a, 8 b), in particular for the steplessadjustment of the rotary resistance.
 2. The adjusting turret as claimedin claim 1, wherein by activating the at least one adjusting element (8,8 a, 8 b) the hardness of the at least one elastic element and/orpretensioning of the at least one elastic element is adjusted.
 3. Theadjusting turret as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking element (4a, 4 b) is mounted to be displaceable perpendicular to the rotary axisof the rotary cap (2).
 4. The adjusting turret as claimed in claim 1,wherein the at least one adjusting element (8) can be displaced parallelto or perpendicular to or obliquely or radially to the rotary axis ofthe rotary cap (2).
 5. The adjusting turret as claimed in claim 1,wherein the at least one locking element (4 a, 4 b) is loaded by atleast one force acting perpendicular or obliquely to the rotary axis andproduced by the at least one elastic element.
 6. The adjusting turret asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting turret comprises at least oneforce-transmitting element (9) which is connected directly or indirectlyto the at least one adjusting element (8) and cooperates with at leastone end of the at least one locking element (4 a, 4 b) facing away fromthe locking ring (3).
 7. The adjusting turret as claimed in claim 6,wherein the force-transmitting element (9) can be displaced paralleland/or along and/or rotationally to the rotary axis (a) of the rotarycap (2), and is designed to taper towards an end facing the lockingelement (4) forming an edge, wherein the edge forms a run-on surface forthe end of the locking element (4 a, 4 b) facing away from the lockingring (3).
 8. The adjusting turret as claimed in claim 6, wherein theforce-transmitting element (9) is loaded at least by at least one forceacting parallel to the direction of the rotary axis of the rotary cap(2) and produced by the at least one elastic element.
 9. The adjustingturret as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element(4 a, 4 b) comprises at least one front part (10 a, 10 b) engaging inthe toothing of the locking ring (3) and at least one rear part (11 a,11 b) facing away from the locking ring (3), wherein between the frontand the rear part at least one spring (6) is held and the front part(10) is mounted displaceably against the rear part (11).
 10. Theadjusting turret as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one elasticelement is at least one spring (5, 6, 7).